Updated September 2026 · Written and maintained by the Progression Agency strategy team
App development cost depends on what the app does, how many platforms it runs on, how much backend it needs and who builds it. This guide gives planning ranges by complexity, app type, platform, feature and team, explains where the money goes and what it costs to keep an app running after launch, so you can budget realistically before you talk to any developer.
On this page · 22 sections
- How much does it cost to make an app?
- App development cost by app type
- Cost by platform: iOS, Android, cross-platform or web
- App development cost by feature
- App development cost breakdown by phase
- How much does it cost to hire an app developer?
- How much does it cost to design an app?
- How much does it cost to maintain an app?
- Hidden costs of app development
- Why does app development cost so much?
- How to reduce app development cost without cutting quality
- MVP app development cost
- AI app development cost
- How to estimate your app budget in five steps
- Get an accurate estimate from Progression Agency
- How much does it cost to develop a mobile app?
- Detailed cost breakdown by app type
- App development cost by team location
- iOS vs Android development cost
- The cost of updating an existing app
- Backend and hosting costs as your app grows
- Budgeting for app marketing
The short answerIn the US market in 2026, a simple app commonly costs roughly $25,000-$60,000, a moderately complex business app roughly $60,000-$150,000, and a complex app such as a marketplace, on-demand service or regulated healthcare or fintech product $150,000-$400,000 or more. Cross-platform development usually costs less than building separate native iOS and Android apps. Budget roughly 15-20% of the build cost every year for maintenance, plus hosting, third-party services and marketing.
All figures are US-market planning ranges compiled for budgeting, not quotes, and real projects vary widely with scope. Store fees are from Apple’s and Google’s published documentation as of September 2026. Wage data is from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How much does it cost to make an app?
Most business apps built by a professional US team cost between roughly $60,000 and $150,000 for a first release, with simple apps from about $25,000 and complex apps well above $150,000. The exact figure depends on features, platforms, backend, integrations, design and compliance.
| Complexity | Typical features | Cost range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | A few screens, basic accounts, no or light backend | $25,000-$60,000 | 2-4 months |
| Moderate | Accounts, payments, admin panel, integrations, push | $60,000-$150,000 | 4-7 months |
| Complex | Multiple user types, real-time, marketplace logic | $150,000-$400,000 | 6-12 months |
| Enterprise / regulated | SSO, compliance, legacy integration, scale | $250,000-$600,000+ | 9-18 months |
App development cost by app type
App type sets the feature list, and the feature list sets the price. Marketplace and on-demand apps cost the most because they serve several user types in real time; content and utility apps cost the least.
| App type | What drives cost | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Business / utility app | Forms, accounts, dashboards | $40,000-$120,000 |
| Ecommerce / shopping app | Catalog, cart, checkout, loyalty, push | $60,000-$200,000 |
| Restaurant / food ordering app | Menus, ordering, payments, loyalty | $50,000-$150,000 |
| Food or grocery delivery app | Customer, courier and store apps; live tracking | $120,000-$350,000 |
| Ride-sharing / taxi (Uber-like) app | Rider and driver apps, dispatch, maps, payments | $150,000-$400,000+ |
| On-demand services app | Booking, provider app, scheduling, payouts | $100,000-$300,000 |
| Social / community app | Profiles, feeds, messaging, moderation | $80,000-$250,000 |
| Dating app | Profiles, matching, chat, safety features | $80,000-$250,000 |
| Fitness / wellness app | Tracking, content, wearables, subscriptions | $60,000-$180,000 |
| Education / e-learning app | Courses, video, progress, quizzes | $60,000-$200,000 |
| Real estate app | Listings, search, maps, agent tools | $70,000-$200,000 |
| Healthcare / telemedicine app | Scheduling, video visits, HIPAA safeguards | $100,000-$350,000+ |
| Fintech / payment / banking app | KYC, payments, security, compliance | $150,000-$500,000+ |
| Video streaming app | Encoding, CDN, DRM, subscriptions | $100,000-$300,000+ |
| Mobile game | Art, animation, game logic | $50,000-$500,000+ |
For specialist categories see healthcare app development, AI app development and SaaS development.
Cost by platform: iOS, Android, cross-platform or web
A single native platform is the cheapest native option, two native apps cost the most, and a cross-platform build in React Native or Flutter reaches both stores for only moderately more than one native app. A progressive web app is the lowest-cost route when store distribution is not required.
| Approach | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| iOS only (Swift) | $50,000-$130,000 | Android later adds substantially |
| Android only (Kotlin) | $50,000-$130,000 | Wider device testing |
| iOS + Android native | $100,000-$250,000 | Two codebases to maintain |
| Cross-platform (React Native / Flutter) | $60,000-$160,000 | One codebase, both stores |
| Progressive web app | $30,000-$90,000 | No store; narrower device access |
See cross-platform app development for a detailed React Native vs Flutter vs native comparison.
App development cost by feature
Features are the building blocks of any estimate. These planning figures show roughly what common features add to a moderate app.
| Feature | Approximate added cost |
|---|---|
| Email / social login | $3,000-$8,000 |
| User profiles and settings | $3,000-$10,000 |
| Push notifications | $3,000-$8,000 |
| In-app payments / subscriptions | $8,000-$25,000 |
| Chat / messaging | $10,000-$35,000 |
| Maps, geolocation and tracking | $8,000-$30,000 |
| Search and filters | $5,000-$20,000 |
| Admin panel | $10,000-$40,000 |
| Video calls | $15,000-$45,000 |
| AI assistant or smart search | $15,000-$60,000 |
| Offline mode and sync | $10,000-$35,000 |
| Analytics and event tracking | $3,000-$10,000 |
App development cost breakdown by phase
Discovery and design typically take 10-15% of the budget, development 40-55%, QA 15-20%, project management 5-10% and launch 5-10%.
| Phase | Share of budget | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery and scoping | 5-10% | Feature list, architecture, estimate |
| UX / UI design | 5-10% | Flows, interface, clickable prototype |
| Development | 40-55% | App, backend, integrations |
| QA and testing | 15-20% | Device testing, bug fixing, security checks |
| Project management | 5-10% | Planning, communication, releases |
| Launch | 5-10% | Store listings, submission, analytics setup |
How much does it cost to hire an app developer?
Rates vary by location and team type. US agencies commonly charge roughly $100-$250 per hour, US freelancers roughly $60-$150, nearshore teams roughly $40-$90 and offshore teams roughly $20-$60. Lower rates often mean more of your time spent on management and rework.
| Team type | Typical hourly rate | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| US agency (full team) | $100-$250 | Strategy, design, QA and PM included |
| US freelancer | $60-$150 | You manage design, QA and continuity |
| Nearshore (Latin America) | $40-$90 | Time-zone overlap, varied quality |
| Offshore (Asia, Eastern Europe) | $20-$60 | Lower rate, more management overhead |
For context, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage for software developers of $135,980 in May 2025. An in-house team also carries benefits, recruiting and management costs.
How much does it cost to design an app?
UX and UI design for a moderate app commonly costs roughly $8,000-$40,000, depending on the number of screens, the level of custom illustration and animation, and how much user testing is included. A clickable prototype alone commonly costs $8,000-$25,000.
How much does it cost to maintain an app?
Budget roughly 15-20% of the original build cost per year for maintenance: OS and device compatibility updates, security patches, bug fixes, dependency upgrades and monitoring. Hosting, third-party services and new features are additional.
| Cost | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Maintenance and updates | ~15-20% of build per year |
| Cloud hosting | $1,200-$30,000+ per year, scaling with usage |
| Third-party services (maps, SMS, email, AI) | Usage-based; plan per active user |
| Apple Developer Program | $99 per year |
| Google Play developer account | $25 one-time |
| Store commission on digital sales | Apple 15% (Small Business Program) or 30%; Google tiered |
| Marketing and user acquisition | Budget separately; often comparable to maintenance |
Hidden costs of app development
- Backend hosting and databases that grow with your users.
- Third-party APIs such as maps, SMS, email, payment processing and AI models, billed by usage.
- Store commissions: Apple’s Small Business Program charges 15% on paid apps and in-app purchases for developers with up to $1 million in prior-year proceeds; Google publishes tiered fees.
- Annual OS updates from Apple and Google that require testing and fixes.
- Security and compliance work such as penetration tests, HIPAA safeguards or SOC 2 audits.
- Google Play testing: new personal developer accounts must run a closed test with 12 testers for 14 days before production release.
- Marketing: store optimization, paid campaigns and content to drive installs.
Why does app development cost so much?
Because an app is really several products: interfaces for two platforms, a backend with accounts and data, an admin system, integrations and security, all tested across many devices. Skilled engineering time is expensive, and quality assurance, store compliance and project management are real work, not overhead.
How to reduce app development cost without cutting quality
- Start with an MVP that does one core job well; move everything else to the roadmap.
- Build cross-platform unless native is genuinely required.
- Use proven managed services for authentication, payments, messaging and maps.
- Test a clickable prototype before development to avoid rebuilding flows.
- Write a clear scope and keep change requests to sprint planning.
- Plan maintenance from day one to avoid costly emergency fixes.
- Choose a partner who owns design, build, QA and launch so nothing falls between vendors.
MVP app development cost
A minimum viable product commonly costs roughly $30,000-$90,000 and takes 10-16 weeks. It proves the core idea with real users before you invest in the full feature set.
AI app development cost
Adding AI features to an app commonly adds $15,000-$60,000 for an assistant or smart search, while an AI-first product commonly costs $80,000-$300,000+. Ongoing model API usage is an additional variable cost. See AI app development.
How to estimate your app budget in five steps
- Write the one core job the app must do and who does it.
- List the user types (customer, provider, admin) and their main screens.
- Pick platforms: iOS, Android, both, or web.
- List integrations: payments, CRM, maps, calendars, AI.
- Add 15-20% per year for maintenance, plus hosting and marketing.
Planning an app?We price apps from a written scope, so the estimate you get is the estimate you are billed against.
Get an accurate estimate from Progression Agency
Progression Agency is a New York City app development company working with businesses across the US and worldwide. Share your idea and we will return a written first-release scope, recommended platform approach and a planning estimate, including the ongoing costs most quotes leave out.
How much does it cost to develop a mobile app?
To develop a mobile app professionally in the US typically costs $25,000-$60,000 for a simple app, $60,000-$150,000 for a moderate business app and $150,000+ for complex apps. Mobile application development costs rise with platforms, backend scope, integrations and compliance.
Cost for software development beyond mobile apps
The cost for software development such as web applications, internal tools and integrations follows the same drivers. See custom software development for typical ranges.
Detailed cost breakdown by app type
The ranges below are planning figures for a professionally built first release in the US market, with the components that drive each category’s cost.
How much does an ecommerce app cost?
Typical range: $60,000-$200,000. The cost is set by catalog size, how checkout works, and whether the app shares a backend with your existing store platform. Connecting to Shopify, BigCommerce or a custom store through its API keeps cost down; loyalty, personalization and in-store features push it up.
| Component | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Catalog, search and filters | $10,000-$30,000 |
| Cart and checkout | $10,000-$30,000 |
| Loyalty and rewards | $8,000-$25,000 |
| Push campaigns | $3,000-$10,000 |
How much does a restaurant ordering app cost?
Typical range: $50,000-$150,000. Ordering apps for a single restaurant group are simpler than delivery marketplaces: menus, modifiers, pickup or delivery through a partner, payments and rewards. POS integration is usually the largest variable.
| Component | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Menu and modifiers | $6,000-$15,000 |
| Ordering and payments | $10,000-$25,000 |
| POS integration | $10,000-$40,000 |
| Rewards | $6,000-$20,000 |
How much does a food or grocery delivery app cost?
Typical range: $120,000-$350,000. Delivery needs three products: a customer app, a courier app and a store or restaurant dashboard, plus dispatch logic and live tracking. Each additional user type adds a full set of screens and backend rules.
| Component | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Customer app | $40,000-$100,000 |
| Courier app with tracking | $30,000-$80,000 |
| Store dashboard | $20,000-$60,000 |
| Dispatch and routing | $20,000-$80,000 |
How much does it cost to build an app like Uber?
Typical range: $150,000-$400,000+. Rider and driver apps, real-time matching, maps and navigation, dynamic pricing, payments and payouts, ratings and safety features make ride-sharing one of the most expensive categories.
| Component | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Rider app | $40,000-$100,000 |
| Driver app | $40,000-$100,000 |
| Matching and pricing engine | $30,000-$120,000 |
| Admin and support tools | $20,000-$60,000 |
How much does an on-demand services app cost?
Typical range: $100,000-$300,000. Home services, beauty, cleaning and repair marketplaces need provider onboarding, availability, booking, payments with payouts and reviews. Background checks and insurance integrations add cost in regulated trades.
| Component | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Customer booking app | $30,000-$80,000 |
| Provider app | $30,000-$80,000 |
| Payments and payouts | $15,000-$40,000 |
| Reviews and trust features | $8,000-$25,000 |
How much does a social media app cost?
Typical range: $80,000-$250,000. Feeds, profiles, messaging, notifications and moderation are the core; media uploads and real-time features add cost, and moderation tooling is essential once real users arrive.
| Component | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Profiles and feed | $20,000-$60,000 |
| Messaging | $15,000-$40,000 |
| Media upload and processing | $10,000-$40,000 |
| Moderation tools | $10,000-$40,000 |
How much does a dating app cost?
Typical range: $80,000-$250,000. Matching logic, chat, photo verification, reporting and safety features, and subscription billing are the main components. Safety and moderation deserve real budget.
| Component | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Profiles and matching | $20,000-$60,000 |
| Chat | $15,000-$35,000 |
| Verification and safety | $15,000-$50,000 |
| Subscriptions | $8,000-$20,000 |
How much does a fitness app cost?
Typical range: $60,000-$180,000. Workout or habit tracking, content libraries, wearable integration through HealthKit and Health Connect, and subscriptions. Video content and live classes increase both build and running cost.
| Component | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Tracking and progress | $15,000-$40,000 |
| Wearable integration | $10,000-$30,000 |
| Video content library | $10,000-$40,000 |
| Subscriptions | $8,000-$20,000 |
How much does an e-learning app cost?
Typical range: $60,000-$200,000. Course structure, video, quizzes, progress tracking, certificates and instructor tools. Live classes and assessments add complexity.
| Component | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Course and lesson player | $15,000-$45,000 |
| Quizzes and progress | $10,000-$30,000 |
| Instructor tools | $15,000-$40,000 |
| Live classes | $15,000-$50,000 |
How much does a real estate app cost?
Typical range: $70,000-$200,000. Listing search with maps, saved searches and alerts, agent messaging and scheduling. MLS or listing-feed integration is typically the largest line.
| Component | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Search and map views | $15,000-$40,000 |
| Listing feed integration | $15,000-$60,000 |
| Alerts and saved searches | $6,000-$15,000 |
| Agent tools | $15,000-$40,000 |
How much does a telemedicine app cost?
Typical range: $100,000-$350,000+. Scheduling, video visits, secure messaging, EHR integration and HIPAA safeguards. Security testing and compliance work add to a standard build.
| Component | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Scheduling and intake | $15,000-$40,000 |
| Video visits | $20,000-$60,000 |
| EHR integration | $20,000-$100,000 |
| Security and compliance work | $15,000-$60,000 |
How much does a fintech or banking app cost?
Typical range: $150,000-$500,000+. Identity verification, account linking, payments, transaction history, fraud controls and compliance. Partnerships with banking-as-a-service providers shorten the build but add fees.
| Component | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Onboarding and KYC | $20,000-$60,000 |
| Account linking | $10,000-$30,000 |
| Payments and transfers | $30,000-$100,000 |
| Security and fraud controls | $20,000-$80,000 |
How much does a video streaming app cost?
Typical range: $100,000-$300,000+. Encoding, content delivery, playback across devices, DRM for licensed content, subscriptions and recommendations. Streaming infrastructure is a significant ongoing cost.
| Component | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Video pipeline and CDN | $20,000-$80,000 |
| Players across devices | $20,000-$60,000 |
| DRM | $10,000-$40,000 |
| Subscriptions | $8,000-$20,000 |
App development cost by team location
Where your team is based changes the hourly rate far more than the total effort. Lower-rate teams can be good value, but time-zone gaps, communication overhead and rework narrow the difference in practice.
| Team location | Indicative cost |
|---|---|
| US agency | $90,000-$180,000 |
| US freelancers | $60,000-$130,000 |
| Nearshore team | $45,000-$100,000 |
| Offshore team | $30,000-$70,000 |
iOS vs Android development cost
Building for iOS or Android alone costs broadly the same. Android can need more testing across device manufacturers and screen sizes; iOS can need more review preparation for App Store rules.
| Factor | iOS | Android |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Swift | Kotlin |
| Device range to test | Narrower | Wider |
| Store fee | $99 per year | $25 one-time |
| Pre-launch testing | TestFlight beta | 12 testers for 14 days on new personal accounts |
The cost of updating an existing app
Small updates and bug fixes are usually covered by a maintenance plan. New features are priced like any feature work; redesigns commonly cost 30-60% of the original build; and rebuilding on a new framework can approach the cost of the original app.
| Change | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Bug fixes and small tweaks | Covered by maintenance plan |
| New feature | $5,000-$50,000 each |
| Visual redesign | 30-60% of original build |
| Rebuild on new framework | 60-100% of original build |
Backend and hosting costs as your app grows
Hosting starts small and grows with active users, stored media and real-time features. Designing the backend for efficient caching and storage keeps per-user cost low as you scale.
| Stage | Indicative monthly hosting |
|---|---|
| Beta (hundreds of users) | $50-$300 |
| Launch (thousands of users) | $300-$1,500 |
| Growth (tens of thousands) | $1,500-$8,000 |
| Scale (hundreds of thousands+) | $8,000+ |
Budgeting for app marketing
An app with no marketing budget depends on store search alone. Plan for store optimization, a launch campaign and ongoing acquisition; many businesses budget launch marketing at a meaningful share of the build cost. See mobile app PR and performance marketing.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build an app in 2026?
What is the average cost of app development?
How much does a simple app cost?
How much does it cost to build an app like Uber?
How much does an ecommerce app cost?
How much does a food delivery app cost?
How much does a healthcare app cost?
How much does a dating app cost?
How much does a fitness app cost?
How much does it cost to hire an app developer?
How much does it cost to design an app?
How much does app maintenance cost per year?
How much does it cost to put an app on the App Store?
How much does it cost to publish on Google Play?
What commission do app stores take?
Is it cheaper to build for iOS or Android?
Is cross-platform cheaper than native?
How much does an MVP app cost?
How much does an AI app cost?
Why is app development so expensive?
Can I build an app for $10,000?
How long does it take to build an app?
What are the hidden costs of app development?
How much does a web app cost compared with a mobile app?
How can I reduce app development cost?
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